Can Detroit’s Cade Cunningham Win Rookie Of The Year?

While the Detroit Pistons may be struggling, the Motor City is ablaze with Cade Cunningham fever.

Since 1970, Detroit has finally secured its first No. 1 pick who appears to be incredibly promising. Over the weekend, he was awarded the prestigious title of MVP at the Rising Stars event during the All-Star Weekend.

Although Cunningham is a potential frontrunner for Rookie of the Year in Michigan, do his performances this year truly warrant him receiving the prestigious accolade?

When can we expect Cunningham’s talents to bring success to the Pistons as a franchise, and perhaps even more significantly?

Cade Cunningham Rookie of the Year odds

Although Cunningham has shown great skill during his time on the court, there have been several obstacles preventing him from being a strong contender for Rookie of the Year.

He has been unable to play in 14 out of Detroit’s 58 games due to injuries. Additionally, the Pistons currently share the lowest number of wins in the league, which stands at 13.

At the All-Star Break, Evan Mobley from the Cleveland Cavaliers has clearly established himself as the top contender, leaving behind the competition. Cunningham now finds himself ranked with other contenders like Josh Giddey from the Oklahoma City Thunder and Scottie Barnes from the Toronto Raptors, but they remain significantly behind Mobley.

It is no surprise that Michigan strongly supports one of their own. According to PointsBet Sportsbook MI, Cunningham is receiving 58% of the wagers and 76% of the handle in the ROY market in Michigan, while nationally he only has 19% of the wagers and 31% of the handle.

According to BetMGM Michigan, Cunningham is leading the ROY market with 81% of the wagers and 84% of the handle.

Cunningham among rookie stat leaders

Despite not being predicted to be a prolific scorer, Cade Cunningham has defied expectations and currently holds the top spot among rookies in scoring, averaging an impressive 15.7 points per game this season.

In addition, he ranks second among rookies in assists, with an average of 5.2 per game, and steals, with a total of 57. Moreover, he holds the fifth position in blocks, with 29, and the seventh position in rebounds, averaging 5.5 per game.

Taking into account his assists, Cunningham contributes a minimum of 25 points per game for the Pistons.

Cunningham’s exceptional performance during the Rising Stars event in Cleveland last Friday earned him the MVP title, thanks to his outstanding all-around play. Throughout his team’s two games, where they scored a total of 75 points, Cunningham contributed with 18 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, two steals, and two blocks.

With 8.1 rebounds per game and 82 blocks, Mobley is currently at the forefront among rookies. Additionally, he maintains an average of 14.9 points per game.

Nevertheless, the primary factor bolstering Mobley’s campaign is Cleveland’s current position at fourth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 35-23. The Cavaliers have already exceeded their win total from last season (22) by an impressive margin of 13 victories.

Getting Cunningham some help

In Michigan, there is a widespread agreement that Detroit made the correct decision by selecting Cunningham as the top pick.

His leadership abilities and enthusiastic embrace of being the future of the franchise, in addition to his impressive stats, have made him highly cherished by the people of Detroit.

The question now arises: How can we ensure Cunningham’s supporting cast succeeds?

Can the Pistons win the Draft Lottery again?

The Pistons are likely to secure an early pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, regardless of the outcome of their final 24 games this season.

Sports bettors have the option to find the Pistons’ win total listed at an incredibly low figure. It is crucial to remember that Detroit only achieved a win total of 20 in the previous year.

Once again, the Pistons are poised to be strong contenders for the coveted No. 1 overall pick. Throughout NBA history, only two teams have achieved the remarkable feat of winning consecutive NBA Lotteries. The Orlando Magic emerged victorious in both 1992 and 1993, while the Cleveland Cavaliers triumphed in 2013 and 2014.

The franchise managed to reach the NBA Finals in both instances, accomplishing the feat within a span of two years.

When’s the right time to spend?

This year, the Pistons were anticipated to have a more significant role at the NBA Trade Deadline, primarily due to Jerami Grant being seen as a desirable trade asset. However, Detroit did not receive the desired offer it was hoping for.

Despite having one year left on his $60 million contract, the Detroit team might consider trading the experienced player during the upcoming offseason.

The upcoming offseason is expected to provide the Detroit Pistons with a considerable amount of cap space, amounting to a minimum of $31 million. This financial advantage positions the Pistons to become significant participants in the free agency market. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the 2024 free agent pool may not be as appealing in comparison to the more enticing prospects expected in 2024.

Zach LaVine, Miles Bridges, Jonas Valanciunas, and T.J. Warren are among the prominent unrestricted options this year.

By 2024, the UFA pool resembles an extraordinary All-Star lineup, boasting the presence of LeBron James, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Bradley Beal, Kyrie Irving, Nikola Jokic, and Nikola Vucevic.

Although Pistons fans are eager for a victorious team in Detroit, it might be wise to withhold spending this offseason and instead aim to attract a significant player in 2024.